The average salary for a derrick operator in California is around $55,480 per year.
Avg Salary
Derrick operators earn an average yearly salary of $55,480.
Wages typically start from $52,760 and go up to $71,470.
27% below national average Updated in 2025
Derrick operator earnings by seniority
90th percentile
Top-level derrick operator earnings begin at:
$34.36 per hour
$71,470 per year
75th percentile
Senior-level derrick operator earnings begin at:
$33.13 per hour
$68,920 per year
50th percentile
Mid-level derrick operator earnings begin at:
$26.67 per hour
$55,480 per year
25th percentile
Junior-level derrick operator earnings begin at:
$25.37 per hour
$52,770 per year
10th percentile
Starting level derrick operator earnings begin at:
$25.37 per hour
$52,760 per year
Approximate values based on highest and lowest earning segments.
Derrick operator salary by state
| State Name | Average Salary |
|---|---|
| Louisiana | $86,980 |
| Alaska | $78,050 |
| Wyoming | $76,750 |
| North Dakota | $71,850 |
| Florida | $64,950 |
| Colorado | $64,730 |
| Pennsylvania | $59,720 |
| New Mexico | $59,570 |
| Oklahoma | $58,270 |
| Utah | $56,980 |
| Texas | $56,100 |
| California | $55,480 |
| Ohio | $50,650 |
| West Virginia | $50,640 |
| Arkansas | $50,070 |
| Alabama | $49,350 |
| Montana | $48,110 |
| Mississippi | $47,340 |
| Illinois | $45,900 |
| Michigan | $45,180 |
| Kansas | $39,290 |
How do derrick operator salaries compare to similar careers?
Derrick operators earn about the same as related careers in California. On average, they make less than mining machine operators but more than extraction workers.
| Career | Median Salary |
|---|---|
| Mining machine operator salary | $63K |
| Wellhead pumper salary | $64K |
| Automotive service technician salary | $65K |
| Recreational vehicle service technician salary | $68K |
| Farm equipment mechanic salary | $54K |
| Derrick operator salary | $55K |
| Motorcycle mechanic salary | $57K |
| Geothermal technician salary | $51K |
| Machine assembler salary | $47K |
| Extraction worker salary | $52K |
Source: CareerExplorer (Aggregated)